What is this thing in the basement? telephone? doorbell?

jkeuning

theatretch85

I believe its an old lightning arrestor for your phone line.

kbsparky

That is correct. Those are the old carbon elements used on phone lines.

You can also see that it has been disconnected. So, it can be deemed abandoned.

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gregzoll

There are people that collect this old gear. Just throw into your parts box, or hang by the work bench. Great conversation starter.

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: Don't touch it! It's the History Eraser button, you fool!
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: That's just it. We don't know. Maybe something bad, maybe something good. I guess we'll never know, 'cause you're going to guard it. You won't touch it, will you?

rjniles

In telephone lingo, it is called a protector. The long red devices are fuses which are overcurrent devices. Under the black screw on cap are carbon & porcelain blocks that prove an air gap to ground that provides over voltage protection. These devices in a more modern form are still used by wire line telephone providers today; they are located in a box called a NID (network interface device).

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